Eight budget-friendly ways to entertain the kids

Keeping children entertained without overspending takes a bit of planning, especially over the holidays. The good news is that some of the most enjoyable activities cost very little and a few of them can actually save you money or teach your children valuable lessons about it. We’ve got eight activities to try.

Plant bulbs and seeds

You’ll usually find bulbs and seed packets in discount shops with prices starting from just £1 per pack. Sunflowers, radishes, nasturtiums, peas, beans and marigolds grow quickly and give children an excuse to get outside in the fresh air every day.

Helping kids find their green fingers gives them something to care for and they can track the growth process.

Earn extra spending money by decluttering

Kids don’t always want to part with their old toys, but there’s a way to make it fun while earning extra spending money at the same time.

Have a declutter day where they sort through their toys, games, teddies and books and set aside anything they haven’t played with for a certain time period.

You can then help them to come up with prices so they can sell anything they’re ready to part with. List items on Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and eBay or run a garage sale for families in your local area. It’s a great activity to teach them the value of what they own and how to make money from things they no longer need. They can use any money they earn from sales to buy something new or put away in a savings account and it won’t have cost you a penny.

Plan and cook meals

Planning and cooking meals can be a mundane task for adults but it’s an exciting and interactive activity for children.

To start with, research healthy plate options and let the kids choose a meal to prepare and cook with you. Give them a budget and take them shopping to buy all the ingredients and when you’re at the supermarket, show them how to find the best prices and money-saving deals.

Cooking a delicious and nutritious meal together gives children a sense of accomplishment and introduces them to new foods in a fun way. It also helps them learn important money-management skills.

Have a ‘yes’ day

Pick a day where the answer to (almost) everything is yes. Set a few ground rules and let them take the lead. Yes days feel like a huge treat to children (and can be really fun for parents too!) and is the kind of day they'll talk about long after the yes day is over.

Chalk art

A box of chalk is really cheap but provides hours of fun for any budding Banksy artists in the family!

Your kids can use patios or pathways to create their chalk art. If they don’t enjoy making pictures, they could draw out a pattern to follow on their bikes or targets to throw balls into.

This is a really simple activity that gets them outside and busy and best of all, no clearing up as the rain washes everything away.

Spring nature hunt

This lovely outdoor activity costs nothing and helps children appreciate nature in their local area.

First up, make a nature Bingo card with the kids that includes common birds, animals, plants, flowers or trees they can look out for.

Then, take them on a walk to a local park or in the countryside to see how many Bingo items they can tick off. If creating a Bingo card feels like a lot of hard work, you can sometimes get free seasonal spotter sheets from organisations like the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts.

DIY cards

Handmade cards tend to mean more to people than shop-bought, so this is a lovely activity that the card recipients will love.  

Best of all, you don’t have to buy expensive art supplies. Use cardboard that was headed for the recycling bin and cut out pictures from magazines or used wrapping paper to decorate the cards.

Free local events

Many organisations and businesses often run free or very low-cost activities.

You can find a list of activities in your area by looking online or in the events section on Facebook. If you get a free, local magazine delivered, you’ll often find events are publicised there too.

Kids’ activities don't have to be expensive to be memorable. These ideas help take some of the financial pressure off so that you and your family can relax and have fun.